Outrageous! What Do You Have to Say?

"Men, send the young master back at once..." Gao Zhanyuan barked an order, about to have Gao Peng sent away. He intended to face the Emperor alone and seek justice. The Ren Family had an Amnesty Jade Token—did that mean they could act as they pleased? If so, would that not leave everyone living in fear?

"No..." Having calmed down by now, Gao Peng, swallowing the pain of crushed teeth, suddenly raised a hand. "I want to face the Emperor exactly like this. This matter may not be enough to do anything to Ren Jie, but the Emperor has long been wary of the Ren Family's strength. Today, I'll let him see just how arrogant the Ren Family has become without Ren Tianxing. And even if he doesn't punish Ren Jie, he'll still have to give us some compensation. Things have reached this point, so we must make the most of it. As for Ren Jie... I don't need anyone else to interfere. I'll deal with him slowly myself."

Today's humiliation had to be repaid, come hell or high water.

Although Gao Zhanyuan was the Gao Family Head, he clearly remembered what his father had told him eight years ago when passing the position on to him.

"Among your peers, there are those better than you, and even more who are about your equal. The reason I gave you the position of family head is because you have a good son." Thus, he knew very well that he was merely holding the position temporarily. The one his father had truly favored was Gao Peng. In fact, over the past three years or so, Gao Family affairs had gradually come under Gao Peng's control.

Therefore, once Gao Peng spoke, Gao Zhanyuan said nothing more. He immediately took him aboard his Spirit Leopard Carriage and hurried into the Imperial Palace. As the Gao Family Head's Spirit Beast Carriage entered the palace, the main palace gates slowly closed behind them.

Within the Imperial Palace stood the Five Clans Hall, built after the Five Great Families had jointly founded the Bright Jade Dynasty. Its splendor did not pale beside any hall in the palace. It was opened only once a year, when the Emperor held an Imperial Banquet for the other Four Great Family Heads. This was where the heads of the Five Great Families had forged their alliance in those days, and it held special significance.

At this moment, Li Haiyuan, Emperor of the Bright Jade Dynasty, had long been seated above, waiting. Usually, the court officials waited for the Emperor to appear. Only when the Emperor hosted the other Four Great Family Heads in the Five Clans Hall did certain rules change.

Naturally, the Emperor still sat high above with imposing majesty. Not yet fifty, His Majesty was in the prime of life. Under his rule, the Bright Jade Dynasty's territory had expanded by more than double. As the holder of the Supreme Position of an entire nation, his aura was all the more commanding.

Wen Yong entered first with Wen Zihao. After paying respects to the Emperor, they took their seats. Next came Fang Tianen, the Fang Family Head, accompanied by a Fang Family descendant.

Damn, just how huge is this place? It's far larger than the Ren Family's Great Council Hall. Looking at the Emperor seated above in stern dignity, Ren Jie felt that the Emperor's bearing, this Imperial Palace, and his position seemed to have fused into one. No wonder ordinary people felt fear and an urge to kneel when they saw the Emperor.

Had Ren Jie entered this place before, he would certainly have been greatly affected. But he had even experienced that mysterious Sage Dao Discussion. Compared to that, this was far too lacking.

"Ren Jie, Ren Family Head, pays respects to Your Majesty." In his memories, this was not the first time Ren Jie had met the Emperor, so the etiquette was simple enough. As the Ren Family Head, he was not required to perform a grand salute, so it was not too difficult. Yet the former Ren Jie had always been so nervous when meeting the Emperor, so oppressed by the Emperor's aura and pressure, that he had retained little impression of him. He had not even dared raise his head for a proper look. This time, Ren Jie assessed him as soon as he entered, then brought Gao Ren and Tie Ta forward to salute.

Tie Ta was honest and straightforward, like a country bumpkin entering a city for the first time, finding everything strange. Gao Ren, on the other hand, merely rolled his eyes at the sight of the Emperor seated above. Entirely unconcerned, he casually followed Ren Jie in making a token salute, then immediately turned his gaze toward the food laid out at their seats.

"Rise, Ren Family Head. I recall that at the last Imperial Banquet, the Ren Family's three elders accompanied you. You seem not to come of age until next year. Why have the elders not come this year?" The Emperor told them to rise, yet did not immediately grant them seats. Instead, he asked this question with apparent curiosity.

Damn it, pretending to be ignorant when he knows perfectly well. Though what had happened before the palace gates had only just occurred, Ren Jie did not believe the Emperor was unaware. If he did not even know what was happening right under his nose, then there was no need for him to remain Emperor.

The question sounded casual, even concerned, but when one pondered its implications, there was far more beneath the surface.

He wanted to probe the Ren Family's internal affairs. Moreover, his question would spread outward, perhaps even worsen the conflict between Ren Jie and the family elders. Or perhaps he was waiting for the Gao Family to enter...

"I'm not that young anymore. When my father was my age, he could already lead troops into battle. So I thought I couldn't keep several elders at my side whenever something happened, or people would think I was still an unweaned child. My friend and my most loyal guard happened to want to see what an Imperial Banquet was like this year, so I brought them along." Naturally, Ren Jie could not say everything, but he revealed part of the truth. Though he had never studied Earth psychology in depth, he had learned quite a bit from films and television dramas. Lies could easily develop flaws and be exposed, so telling the truth was the best choice.

Of course, even when telling the truth, how one said it and which parts one chose to reveal could produce entirely different results. At this moment, Ren Jie was speaking the truth.

Wen Yong, already seated to the side, had just raised his teacup and taken a sip. Hearing Ren Jie's words, he nearly sprayed tea everywhere. Fang Tianen also looked at Ren Jie with an exceedingly strange expression.

Your father was indeed formidable—no one denied that. The Ren Family had been powerful when the dynasty was founded, then had remained at the bottom for the past several centuries, until Ren Tianxing emerged and raised the family to its peak in less than twenty years. But that was your father. Could you compare yourself to him?

"Your Majesty." Ren Jie bowed solemnly. "I also wish to learn from my father and expand the nation's borders. If there is an opportunity, I ask Your Majesty to let me lead troops into battle for the country."

You, lead an expedition for the country? You may not mind dying, but I'm afraid of losing face.

The Emperor was rendered speechless by Ren Jie's words. This boy had only been family head for one year—had he already swelled beyond all bounds? He wanted far too much to imitate his father. When his father was his age, he had already reached the peak of the True Qi Realm, and was accomplished in both letters and arms. But this hedonistic young master...

In truth, a hedonistic young master like this ordinarily would not even have the chance to meet the Emperor. But Ren Jie was the Ren Family Head, and today was the Five Clans Hall's Imperial Banquet, so the Emperor could not say much else.

"Ren Family Head, your devotion to the nation is commendable. But first, complete your studies at Jade Emperor Academy. Grant them seats." The Emperor did not wish to listen any further. Who knew what more nonsense Ren Jie might spout if allowed to continue?

"Pfft..." At last, Wen Yong, who had tried to take a sip of water to force back the tea he had nearly sprayed earlier, could no longer hold it in and spat out a mouthful of tea.

Beside him, Wen Zihao was struggling so hard to suppress his laughter that the flesh on his face kept twitching.

Fang Tianen, seated on the other side, looked at Ren Jie with contempt. This fellow really has changed greatly. Before, in His Majesty's presence, he wouldn't even dare lift his head or look straight ahead. Now he dares say anything at all, though every word is utter nonsense.

Thinking of all the reports from before, as well as what had happened outside the palace, Fang Tianen came to a conclusion: it seemed that after being beaten, this fellow's mind had truly become somewhat abnormal.

"Yes." Seeing the expressions of the Emperor and the others, Ren Jie felt quite pleased. At least for now, neither the Emperor nor the other families truly regarded him highly. What they feared was the powerful Ren Family; as for him, the hedonistic family head, they did not care in the slightest. Ren Jie answered with proper solemnity, then beckoned Gao Ren and Tie Ta toward the first seats on the left. Before even sitting down, he grabbed a piece of fruit from the table and bit into it without the slightest politeness.

Fatty Gao Ren was completely unaffected by the surroundings. At the sight of delicious food, he moved even faster than Ren Jie. When Tie Ta saw Ren Jie make a move, he directly scooped up all the fruit from an entire plate into his hands.

The actions of the three made Wen Yong and Fang Tianen, the two family heads seated nearby, frown deeply.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, you must uphold justice for this official! Your Majesty, there is no law, no justice left! The laws of the nation cannot tolerate this, Your Majesty..." Just then, Gao Zhanyuan's tearful voice suddenly rang out from outside, immediately drawing everyone's attention.

Then Gao Zhanyuan entered with Gao Peng, who limped along at his side.

"Pfft..." As soon as he reached the front, Gao Peng spat out a mouthful of blood. Mixed within it were all the fragments of the teeth he had crushed earlier. His open mouth was filled with blood, an appalling sight. He looked as though he had suffered grievous injuries and was on the verge of death.

"What... what happened? How did Gao Peng end up injured like this?" Last year's top-ranked palace graduate had been personally chosen by the Emperor in the Golden Hall, so naturally the Emperor recognized him. As for what had happened earlier, however, he pretended to know absolutely nothing.

"Your Majesty, you must uphold justice for this official! Ren Jie, the Ren Family Head, has no regard for the law. He injured my son Gao Peng before the Imperial Palace gates, and even used the Amnesty Jade Token Your Majesty bestowed last time to threaten to kill my entire family. I beg Your Majesty to uphold justice for this official, return fairness to me, and give everyone peace of mind." Generally speaking, if someone was merely the head of a family, he remained somewhat detached even before the Emperor, because he represented an independent power and did not serve as a court official. Such cases were rare, however. Ren Jie was an exception.

Gao Zhanyuan was the Minister of Revenue, in charge of the realm's finances and grain supplies, a man of high office and great authority. Yet now tears streamed down his aged face, and he looked utterly aggrieved.

Gao Peng, meanwhile, said not a word. From time to time, he spat bloody saliva from his mouth. Yet whenever the corner of his eye turned toward Ren Jie, it held an icy chill that surpassed ordinary Killing Intent. A single glance at that coldness was enough to make one shudder.

"Boss, this is delicious. It's specially offered as tribute—we usually can't eat it."

"Mhm, mhm, this one's good too. Tie Ta, eat slower."

"Uh... okay!"

Yet Ren Jie and his two fellow food lovers treated them as though they did not exist. Although no other dishes had yet been served, more than a dozen kinds of pastries and fruits had already been laid out. The surrounding space was enormous, and before long, more than a hundred dishes would be brought in. But the three were already feasting with great relish, eating until they were beside themselves with delight.

"Minister Gao, do not rush. What exactly happened? Men, summon the imperial physician at once to treat the palace graduate." The Emperor pretended to know nothing, thoughtfully ordering someone to summon an imperial physician while asking again.

Gao Zhanyuan recounted what had happened, full of grievance. Then, beating his chest and stamping his feet, he declared that Ren Jie's actions had not merely been an assault on one person. He had treated an imperial gift as a child's toy, disregarded the laws of the nation and the dignity of the imperial house, and deserved execution.

Bang... How outrageous! After hearing this, the Emperor's dragon countenance flew into a rage. He slammed his palm onto the table before him, making the pastries and fruit platters jump. Then his expression darkened as he looked toward Ren Jie. "Ren Jie, Ren Family Head, what do you have to say?"